Former Tesla engineer heading government agency reportedly outlines ‘AI-first strategy’

Thomas Shedd, the former Tesla engineer now serving as the director of Technology Transformation Services, reportedly outlined an “AI-first strategy” for the U.S. government department. According to a report from Wired citing multiple sources, the Musk ally described the plan to run the office like a “startup software company” during a Monday meeting.

The New York Times notes that the cost-cutting measure arrives as the department is said to be eyeing a 50% budget cut. The paper adds that Shedd is looking to build a centralized government contract database designed for AI analysis. Such a strategy sits comfortably at the intersection of smaller government and increased AI reliance advocated by the Silicon Valley investors and executives rising through the government ranks under the Trump administration.

The TTS is a division of the General Services Administration that helps federal agencies improve their tech practices.